Never Underestimate

by unknown

This story happened sixteen years ago, my son is now 22
years old, but when I look at him even as a grown man, I
remember the small child with the tears.

We had a female cat who was ready to give birth to her
kittens, and like all young children, my son was curious
and excited to see the birth of these new babies. I felt
he was old enough to view this miraculous event.

So I answered all his questions and prepared him the best
I could so he wouldn't be shocked or scared. The night
the blessed event took place, one kitten had been born
by the time my son arrived home from school. He was so
thrilled and amazed at what he saw. He would lay his
hand on the mother cat's belly and feel the other
kittens moving and awaiting their turn to be born. When
the mother cat began to yeowl very loudly, it was clear
the second was on its way.

My son watched but never said a word. When the second
kitten was born and the mother was busy taking care of
it, preparing for the next, my son asked me, "Mommy how
come she cries so loud when the baby comes?" In my
delight of having my son wanting to view this miraculous
event and thinking I had prepared him for it, I had not
thought to explain about the pain of giving birth.

Not wanting to take anything away from the miracle he was
witnessing, I tried to explain to him that it was not
hurtful pain but a pain of great pleasure for the mother
cat, knowing her babies would soon be born.

When the birth of the third kitten became obvious by the
crying yeowls of the mother, I glanced at my son to
offer words of comfort if he showed signs of it becoming
too stressful for him. When I looked at his face he had
tears rolling down his cheeks. So I asked him why he was
crying and he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I'm
sorry I gave you all that pain to have me."

I thought my heart had stopped. It was all I could do to
contain myself from grabbing him and just holding him
close to me but I knew I couldn't have him thinking that
his birth was something that caused me pain in the way
he was thinking. With a careful choice of words and
reassurance, I told him his birth has done nothing but
bring smiles to my life and that I would go through it
100 times … that the pain meant so little compared to
the joy of having him.

He gave me a big hug and then he said, "Mommy I know why
the kittens come out that end?" I asked him why and he
said, "Because the other end has got teeth." I was
laughing so much inside, I thought I would burst. The
things a child will notice that an adult takes for
granted will always surprise me.

My son is a grown man now but he and I always remember
that day so clearly and he still says today the memory
for him was finally understanding what the word "love"
meant. The memory for me was feeling the love of my
child as he wrapped his arms around me and gave me the
biggest hug he had ever given me. Never underestimate
what your child is capable of understanding, or more
important, the logic they use to understand what they
are seeing or hearing.

Do you think the Savior went thru the pain He did because
of the joy he would eventually have as we repent of our
sins and return to our Father in Heaven? I hope I do my
part in bringing Him joy.